Olympic Greatness: A Tribute to Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Champions of The Sports Bra 🏅
We’re sprinting into a world of Olympic glory with our fifth Legacy Patch, celebrating the astonishing Jackie Joyner-Kersee for her achievements at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, Jackie’s path to Olympic stardom began in her high school days, showing early promise in the long jump. She drew inspiration from multi-sport legends like Babe Didrikson Zaharias and honed her skills at UCLA, balancing her academic pursuits with an incredible dual athletic career in track & field and women’s basketball.
But it was in Seoul where Jackie truly made history, setting a still-standing heptathlon world record of 7,291 points and claiming gold in the long jump. She dazzled the world and became the first American woman to win gold in both the heptathlon and long jump at the same Olympics.
Jackie’s legacy is more than a collection of medals. It’s about resilience, strength, and unwavering dedication—values we cherish here at The Sports Bra. As we honor her with our fifth Legacy Patch, let’s remember the paths she paved for future generations and carry her spirit of excellence with us.
To Jackie, thank you for showing us what true champion spirit looks like. This one’s for you! 🌟
Running towards greatness,
The Sports Bra Crew